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Degree Teams???

owls84

Moderator
Premium Member
Does your lodge have degree teams the perform each degree or do you just throw a team together when the degree is needed?

Would it not be nicer to see degree teams that nail the work as apposed to having someone that shows up and plays a part they haven't played in a few months, and probably hasn't went over the work in floor school since lord knows when?
 

Robert Marshall

Secretary, Waco 92
Premium Member
We don't seem to have "degree teams." For the most part, as you put it, a group is put together when needed, but, when there's a part that one person performs particularly well, it kind of becomes "his part." Case in point, conferring the Fellowcraft degree is done quite well by our Junior Warden so he typically does that. Also, the Bible presentation is done by one of our Past Masters who apparently does a brilliant job. I don't know about that, though, because I have until tomorrow evening before I see that.
 

Wingnut

Premium Member
we just started having floor school, and for the most part we always have the same handful of people that do the parts. So I guess we do have a degree team lol.
 

Blake Bowden

Administrator
Staff Member
Unfortunately we do not, however a neighboring Lodge (Hardeman) is always willing to help out and encourages us to participate in the team.
 

nick1368

Registered User
We dont have a "degree team" however the last few EA's we have done the same people have worked the same parts, so in a sense we do have an EA degree team
 

owls84

Moderator
Premium Member
That is kind of what I am asking. I just wanted to know if you think it would be better for the candidate for some one to master a part and play that part everytime and only move to another part once they believe to have mastered the another part.

I just see many time where a person gets thrown into a degree not really knowing the part and then to me it becomes floor school. I just think that we should give these candidates the best possible degree we can. They are paying for a truly life changing experience right?
 

Wingnut

Premium Member
My personal opinion is that if a slight mispronunciation is made or something isnt exactly perfect during the degree isnt the time to correct it. If it truly changes the meaning or a word is forgotten sure, but there should be 1 person that is tasked with prompting, not all the Holy Men on the sidelines tossing things out.

We just recently started floor school, but I have to say that we do a lot of degrees and since it is the same people most of the time we do a good job. Last year in Nov, Dec, Jan we were averaging 2 degrees a week of one kind or another. Most of the parts we have multiple people that can do them. In fact, other the the WM and lecture I think we all (those that are almost always there for degrees) know each of the other parts. Some of our new MMs are learning the WM and lecture so we should have multiple people on those soon too.
 

rhitland

Founding Member
Premium Member
148 has pretty much put together degree teams for all 3 degrees and it is much nicer knowing what part you play in the degree in advance so to properly prepare but we do recognize that almost ever Mason needs a chance at confering a degree so we are open to change. The cool thing about a degree team also is that you devolp hand signals and signs to help prompt each other when at a loss for words b/c we usually mess up in the same spot and the candidate rarley hears a propmt.
Brother Wing has it right though if some know it all in the corner wants to yell out prompts they should be asked to stand close to the Brother in need or clam up.
Last neat thing about degree team then I will shut up is the matching dress. We decided that it best for us all to dress alike so the candidate gets more from the degree not our variety of dress so we all decided black suits white shirt black tie then shortly changed to black shirt also. I must say so myself it looks sharp as a tack when we all show up in black, we have recently been dubbed the Fort Worth Mafia by a PM at Panther City.
 

Wingnut

Premium Member
change it to red ties!

One other thought, we put together our Trestle Board in advance of a degree (JW is responsible for organizing it). So each person volunteers for the part they would like.
 

Gerald.Harris

Premium Member
Premium Member
We do not have an official team to confer degrees, but like one brother stated above. Most of the time the same people always show up for practices and for degrees, so usually it is the same groups conferring the degrees.
As for the prompting that takes place in some lodges, each time a degree is conferred, the conferring Master should appoint an official prompter before he begins the degree. This step will generally curb the prompts from the side lines, and if the Master selects well, he has a well informed brother to be his prompter.
 
E

ed entrekin

Guest
We do about 15 candidates a year. It is assumed that the JW will confer the Ea, SW the FC and Master the MM. Other officers do their parts. Several other "regulars" do the several lectures. So, we don't have a "team" - we just do our jobs.

Ed Entrekin
Buford 292
Rose Priory KYCH
Yaarab Shrine
 
C

Chief_Cockeye

Guest
EA Degree Teams

The Shrine in Topeka, KS, has initiated an EA Degree Team. It is just beginning; however, they have done one or two degrees so far. The idea is to make a good impression on the first degree so the 'Candidate' will want to come back for the second & third.


Chief...
 
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